Tuesday, February 01, 2011

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 1, 2011) – A Filipina television advertisement director, actress and political activist Mae Paner more popularly known by his screen name Juana Change launched a new video taunting President Benigno Aquino III for purchasing an expensive Porsche for himself.

Speaking to students of the University of the Philippunes in Quezon City, the Filipina YouTube sensation averred that the said purchase belies the image of simplicity that the Aquino family has lived all this time.

The Porsche 911, Aquino, claimed was a used car and purchased only for P4.5 million at a car show in Manila.

“He might not have done this if his parents were still alive today. His bosses are starving, struggling and getting poorer. I have no illusion that he’ll be struggling too. But at the very least we expect him to empathize with his bosses in a way that is appropriate – by living simply and being sensitive to the plight of his people,” she said.

Aquino referred to Filipino people as his bosses shortly after winning the presidency last year.

The new video shows a part where a student reads the text of Republic Act 6713 or Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials outlining how public officials should conduct themselves simply: “Section 4. Norms of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees. (h) Simple living. - Public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.”

Juana Change actively campaigned for Aquino in the elections, but she clarified that she is neither severing ties with nor withdrawing support for this administration.

She said she just wanted to use the video as an expression to correct the prevailing mindset of Aquino and the “barkada” (circle of friends) surrounding him about his inappropriate and insensitive move. “Tough love kumbaga!”